This cemetery contains 821 British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the Great War (821 from the UK, 21 from Australia and 24 South Africans).

In April 1916, No 21 Casualty Clearing Station was located at La Neuville and remained there throughout the 1916 Battles of the Somme, until March 1917. La Neuville British Cemetery was opened in early July 1916. Most of the burials date from this period, but a few graves were added during the fighting on the Somme in 1918.

Captain George Alfred Charles GLEED

Date of Death:

6 September 1916 (Died of wounds)

Grave No:

II.C.17.

Unit:

'D' Company ('C' Company in 1914)

8655 when Sergeant (ORC)

Age:

26

Awards:

Mentioned in Despatches

(London Gazette No. 29623 - 15th June 1916.)

Personal History:

George was born in St Saviour's Parish, Southwark, London in the December quarter 1889. He was the eldest son of George Mark (Electrical Engineer) and Agnes Frances Gleed. George had two younger brothers, Ernest and Arthur, and a younger sister, Elizabeth Mary.

In 1901 the family were living at 10 Wharncliffe Gardens, Marylebone, London (Census RG 13/112) The same Census lists George Snr. as a widower, suggesting Agnes died in 1899+2, however, death records show that she died in 1954 aged 87. The 1911 Census (RG 14/4222) have the family, with Agnes and Arthur, living at Woodbine, Tenterden, Kent - a small holding of 3 acres. George Alfred has presumably joined up by this time and is with the Battalion in Ireland.

At the end of the War the family was living at 11 Meadow Way, Wealdstone, Middlesex. There is no record of George marrying.

Military History:

Currently George's Army records are unavailable, probably destroyed in Second World War bombing.

At the outbreak of War George was Orderly Room Sergeant, in 'C' Company and his Medal Card shows he entered France on 16 August, with the rest of the Battalion. He fought under Captain Dugmore on the right flank of the Battalion's action at Audregnies on 24th August and survived the subsequent fighting at La Bassée and Ypres.

From Sergeant George was promoted through the ranks. The London Gazette. 22 February 1916, reports: "Second Lieutenant (temporary Lieutenant) George A. Gleed to be temporary Captain. Dated 31st December, 1915".

Strangely, however, the Gazette also reported: "Lt. G. A. Gleed (since died of wounds recd, in action) relinquishes the rank of temp. Capt. 4th Sept. 1916". (Gaz. 3 November 1916) So in fact when he died on the 6th September he was, presumably, technically, back to being (temporary) Lieutenant.

Fighting for the village of Guillemont had been going on for some time and a fresh attach was mounted between 3rd and 6th September. The attack started at 9.0 a.m. on 3rd September 1916 and immediately faltered as there had been insufficient artillery support and the Cheshires were ordered forward to reinforce 13th Brigade. From their reserve position to the front line, they had to cross sloping ground in full view of the enemy and under heavy shell fire. On arrival at the front line, it was found that the trench was crowded with men from the attacking Battalions who had been forced to pull back. Gradually 13th Brigade was able to be withdrawn and the Cheshires took over the line, still under attack from artillery fire. Guillemont had been captured by the main force, but Falfemont Farm remained in enemy hands.

At noon on the 4th, orders were issued for another attack on the Farm. This was scheduled for 3.00 p.m. The attack would be undertaken by the Norfolks on the right, the Bedfords on the left and "A" and "C" Companies of the Cheshires in the centre.

The final attack upon the farm went in at 12 noon on the 4th, and after much grim fighting, the 1st Battalion, with their comrades of Norfolk and Bedford were successful. Crookenden wrote: "There was one particularly sad loss in Capt. Gleed who died of wounds received. He had come out with the battalion as orderly room sergeant in 1914."

As George died of wounds it is likely this was at No 21 Casualty Clearing Station in La Neuville, where he is buried.

Captain Gleed, at Abeele, nr. Ypres, 28 July 1915

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